Twin Gavin can learn from my mistakes insists Jamie McDonnell

Liam Hoden

Jamie McDonnell believes twin brother Gavin can learn from his mistakes as he seeks to claim the WBC super bantamweight title this weekend.

McDonnell was widely criticised for his performance in defending his WBA bantamweight title against Liborio Solis last year with many believing he did not not do enough to deserve the points win he received.

And he believes his experience can serve as a warning to his brother, who faces the highly rated Rey Vargas in Hull this weekend.

“The lesson is don’t leave anything to chance,” he told the Free Press.

“No matter how you think you’re doing when you’re in there, you can’t coast through.

“I thought I was comfortable against Solis and I was going to win easily.

“So I coasted through and then I get out of the ring and people tell me straight away that they thought I lost.

“You realise then how close you can come to losing everything.

“Our kid was there, he knows what happened with me and he knows he can avoid it.

“So he has to go out and stay switched on for 12 rounds to get the job done.”

McDonnell is convinced Gavin can beat Vargas on Saturday night, emulating his own triumph over Julio Ceja to win his first world title in 2013.

He said: “I’ve done it and very few people gave me much of a chance against Ceja.

“Our kid is facing the same thing. A Mexican banger who people think is going to walk straight through him.

“That wasn’t how it went for me and I don’t think it’s how it’ll be at the weekend.

“I’m convinced our kid can wear him down. He’ll slip him early on and start to pop that jab as it goes on.

“Then he’ll break him down and it wouldn’t surprise me if he does enough to end it early.

“He’s just got to stay switched on for every minute that it lasts.

“And from what I’ve seen of him in this camp, I’m sure he’ll do that.

“I can’t wait for it, I’m really looking forward to him picking that green belt up on Saturday night.”